By George Chapman

Occasionally, life offers you a rare opportunity that simply must be seized with both hands. Last week, at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, I experienced one of those moments. Norton Motorcycles invited me to ride the V4SV ‘White Charger’ up Lord March’s famous driveway. I accepted without hesitation.

The name "White Charger" was originally given to the Norton RCW588 race bike ridden by Steve Hislop. In 1992, Hislop won the Senior TT at the Isle of Man circuit in an epic battle against Carl Fogarty, who was riding a Yamaha. Norton secured its first Senior TT win since 1961 in what some called the Race of the Century. The epic battle concluded with Norton winning by less than five seconds after 225 racing miles; a remarkable achievement.Fully road legal, today’s White Charger is based on the very latest V4SV, powered by a liquid-cooled 1,200cc V4 engine producing 185 bhp at 12,000 rpm. Aside from the specifications, the level of design and detail on the White Charger has to be seen to be believed. As a combination of packaging and performance, it’s a masterstroke. This bike launches a new customisation programme called One of One, which lets buyers enter a consultation programme with the Norton factory to select their individual bike specifications including paint colour and accessories. Paying homage to the original White Charger of TT fame, the bike features white paint, No. 19 decals, Manx emblems on the tail and removal of the front mudguard. Buyers also have the option to personalise a Hedon branded helmet, adding a bespoke touch to an already exclusive machine. Even at this level, in fact, especially at this level, motorcycle personalisation is very much the order of the day.

Norton at Bike Shed Moto Show 2024 - shot by Amy Shore.

After arriving at Goodwood and meeting the guys on the Norton stand, I met with recent hire Richard Arnold, Norton Executive Director and former CEO of Manchester United Football Club. Richard revealed plans to launch six new models over the next three years, including lighter bikes for younger riders. He was quick to remind me however that all future Nortons will follow the company’s philosophy of ‘Design, Dynamism, and Detail’.

Norton at Bike Shed Moto Show 2024 - shot by Amy Shore

“Norton’s heritage is vast, and plays a key part in our development as a global brand,” he said. “It’s important for us to prioritise our customers, both in the present and the future, not only with new bikes but also with every touch point of the Norton experience. The products currently in testing and development are incredibly exciting. Bikers around the world will love to ride them and love to own them. I am looking forward to expanding their availability to local dealers in new territories and connecting with bikers to share the Norton journey.”

Speaking specifically about the White Charger, Richard added: “Customisation has always been part of the plan at Norton, and the White Charger is the very first machine to have received the full One of One treatment. We’re looking forward to creating more personalised Nortons and working closely with our customers as we guide them through the process.”

With these exciting plans ringing in my ears, and following a privileged lunch in the Drivers’ Club rubbing shoulders with the likes of John McGuinness and Carlos Sainz, it was time for my ride up the hill. The overcast sky set a moody yet fitting backdrop for what was to be an unforgettable experience. As I approached the gleaming White Charger, I noticed it was pristine apart from a light mud-splattering from an earlier run – it commanded huge respect. With a few moments to take it in, the design is a brilliant homage to Hislop's iconic bike, blending classic racing aesthetics with cutting-edge technology.

Once my leathers and lid were checked, I took my place in the startline queue and watched slack jawed as countless priceless machines from all forms of motorsport frantically jostled around me. Keen to calm my nerves, I sat on the bike and was struck by the overall impression of quality. A great deal of thought has been given to every component… and by the number of onlookers that had started to appear, it clearly shows.For those not accustomed to Goodwood, the hill climb starts up a tree-lined avenue before encountering a fast right hand sweeping bend. With cold tyres and a damp track it has caught out a number of over-enthusiastic riders and drivers over the years but for my run I was lucky, the track was dry. The hill climb continues snaking its way in front of Goodwood House, rising a total of 300 feet (93m) up the 1.17 mile (1.9 km) course. There’s certainly no pressure to ride it flat out but the temptation is there to at least ‘open it up a bit’. The White Charger obliged, of course, sounding sensational through its fully unsilenced, open megaphone exhaust.The ride up the hill was uneventful but exhilarating, leaving me in no doubt of the Norton V4 platform’s capabilities; the handling, power and braking are all of the highest standards and it has a wonderful balance. You instantly have the feeling of riding something incredibly special. With all that power it’s easy to think it could be a bit of a monster to ride but it’s not, it’s been developed to be as accessible as possible with incredibly smooth throttle control.Looking back on the experience, the Norton V4SV White Charger is a remarkable motorcycle that pays tribute to a racing legend while pushing the boundaries of modern engineering. Its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was nothing short of spectacular (not just for me), and the introduction of the One of One personalisation program signals an exciting new chapter for Norton, with plenty more unique machines to come. For anyone fortunate enough to have the means to own it, the One of One White Charger, currently available for £66,000, promises an experience that is both thrilling and uniquely connected to Norton’s rich history.

Many thanks to Norton for the opportunity.

George Chapman.